Wildlife in a Suburban Garden

My new Kingfisher Hide

I was looking at last years entry for the corresponding day on the Blog and it was interesting to see, not only what I had been doing, but equally as interesting to see what I had been planning. I had made a comment about not seeing a Kingfisher for a while but expecting to see one eventually if I put the time in, and this is exactly what is happening this year as we approach the month of July. last week I built a new hide just down stream from last years and I have spent a few hours sitting in it, during the early evening mainly, in the hope of a visit from a Kingfisher looking for a territory.  Last year it had taken several weeks of this kind of patience until eventually the original male put in a brief appearance, followed 5 days later by the new young female who stayed until Christmas, at least.    

I am actually writing this as I sit in the hide and exactly the same as last year, a Moorhen........ breeding nearby I'm sure, has just posed in front of the hide, totally oblivious to me.

 

That's good, now I know that the wildlife is used to the hide and is not put off......... quick pause to photograph a female House Sparrow on the specially placed Kingfisher perch..........  

 

This is just the same as last year, lots of sparrows before the Kingfisher put in her appearance.  Looking at the lovely inviting perch fills me with excitement because when one does show it's going to be quite a picture.

One difference this year, although no photograph to show for it,  a young Reed Warbler was on the perch in front of me for a few seconds the other day but I didn't manage to get a picture but I am hopeful that I will get another.  Also yesterday, a young Grey Wagtail was on the perch as I approached the hide so plenty of birds to photograph while I wait for the  "Royal Visit".  This year, the flow of the brook is not as clear as previous years and the environment agency have told me that in August they are going to dredge through the centre of the channel.  This will. in the long term be better, but in the short term will cause a massive amount of disturbance. It was my impression that last year, as the seasons progressed, new Kingfishers were flying up and down the brook looking for territories of their own so when things return to normal in September and then October, there will still be ample opportunity for a Kingfisher to claim some "Real Estate".

Grey Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea

This is an adult male Grey Wagtail showing a black bib. It's only during the breeding season that they have a bib. I haven't photographed many males in full breeding plumage so it was nice to get the chance this afternoon. I went to the River Teign to try and photograph the young Dipper, this didn't happen but I did see it as it flew down stream before I took up my position. I literally laid down next to the water because I wanted to be at the same level as the birds, particularly Dipper. Almost immediately a family of Grey Wagtails were in front of me and very close indeed. The Giilie Suit was working well but my view was obscured a bit by the angle that I was lying. At one point one of the newly fledged Wagtails was just a foot or so from me but I couldn't put the camera on it because any movement and it would have beeb spooked. I did manage some good shots in the end.

Hawthorn Shield Bug - Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale

This is a Hawthorn Shield Bug from the garden today, one of two adult insects around my very small wildlife area. I'm quite sure that this is the first time I have seen them in the garden and am glad to add it to the record of species. I am also fascinated by the beauty of this insect with it's  rosy markings on the green.  There is a saying that goes "Red and Green should never be seen" but apparently, in nature that doesn't apply.  Being allergic to Wasps and having previously endured a full blown anaphylactic attack from a sting in the past, it is a bit of a worry that we have a very active wasp nest close to the house. I hope that I manage to avoid a sting this summer. It is life threatening so I must keep my epi-pen close at hand just in case.  Bats are active at dusk and have been flying around the garden as in previous years.  I have been planning to try and photograph them.  Keep checking back because once I get my teeth in to something, I am usually successful! To that end,  I spent some time this evening trying but still a lot to do.

The tiny pond has produced a healthy crop of tadpoles and now tiny frogs have started to emerge.  It fills me with a great deal of satisfaction to know that my tiny pond has given frogs the chance to breed 

Stonechat feeding youngster.

I went back to the moor today, specifically in the hope of getting these shots. I have been seeing both adults and newly fledged Stonechats these last few days, but oddly no female. As I have said, the male searches for caterpillars from a high perch, and is successful at least 25 times every hour. He then flies away from the grassy area, where the prey is easily found, to the heather covered hillside behind. The chicks, having now fledged, have moved off the hill to the bushes adjacent to the short grass and beg for food whenever the male comes near. Eventually things worked out OK for me, one of the youngsters  was on an exposed branch and in good light and the parent then flew in with food. All in all a good result and some interesting behaviour to observe.

Another session on the Moor

I have had a few good days photographing the birds on Dartmoor recently, even though it's a bit of a drive to get there and back, it's worth it for not only the photographic opportunities, but I enjoy the peace and tranquility, but above all, I like the idea that you never know what may show up.  Stonechats, Wheatear and Meadow Pipits are breeding close to where I have been watching just lately and I have had the opportunity to photograph the adults as they come in to feed on, mainly caterpillars which they avidly search for from a high perch.  In the case of the Stonechat, the male is constantly searching for food and is very successful and seems to find, and deliver at least 30 caterpillars every hour. Here he is flying in to one of his favourite perches.

Then, from the perch he can observe prey from as far as 30 feet away.

There is a breeding pair of Wheatears and both adults feed on the short grass, again on caterpillars, in just the same way as the Stonechats. The young have fledged the nest and at one time this morning two were perched on a log just in front of the wall that I was hiding behind.  I took the opportunity to get some pictures of these young birds, only a few weeks old and very attractive. It's amazing when you think that the bird pictured below will, in the next few months, fly all the way to sub-saharan Africa. 

Stonechat in flight

Back on the moor this morning....... I was hoping, now the weather was slightly better, that the Cuckoo would be back in his favourite trees, but unfortunately not.  However, I had a great session and photographed not only Stonechat (above), but Meadow Pipit, and a great male Wheatear. I had noticed that the Stonechat was using the same perch repeatedly and I positioned my self close, but well hidden and camouflaged, with a clear view of the dead stump. I have actually seen the Cuckoo on this stump so there is always a bit of excitement in the air, you never know what will arrive. My plan was to try to photograph the Stonechat as he flew in to land on the perch and it wasn't long before I had some real success. In the end, it was easier to get photos as he flew in but did get a nice shot as he flew down to feed.

This is the best photograph that I have taken of a Wheatear, this species breeds here on Dartmoor and I have seen more of them this year than I have previously. 

During my session the BBC were doing a feature nearby concerning the environment and EEC subsidies. When I went back to the car the BBC asked me if they could photograph me to use in their Spotlight TV report which I have just seen.  

 

Baby Birds

A couple of baby birds from yesterday's sessions...... the first a Stonechat, perched nicely just a few feet away from with the parents nearby. Notice the rain in the background which eventually got the better of me.  Of course the bottom one is the lovely young Dipper that I have been watching for the last few days.

Golden Ringed Dragonfly - Cordulegaster boltonii

Seen by the River Teign, Britain's largest Dragonfly and the only one with Black and yellow rings.

A few better Dipper photos

It would be hard to say how rewarding it was to get these photos this afternoon.  When I had visited the river last evening, it was dark and hard to get a good photo, so with better conditions this afternoon, I thought I would have some success. So I sat by the river in the Gillie Suit and covered in scrim netting.  Grey Wagtail was the first to show........ always good to know that your camo is working.  A Kingfisher flew past, so much more impressive than any photographs can convey.  Suddenly, there was the baby Dipper right in front of me. I took lots of photos and I have judged these as the best.

Baby Dipper

It has been wet today, so I was somewhat hamstrung, I decided to go and have a look at the Dipper site that I was watching before I went to Australia. You may remember that the nest had failed twice, both times eggs being taken by a predator of some kind. The river was beautiful as always and now that the trees are in full leaf, it was much darker than 6 weeks ago when I had last visited. I was expecting to see the adult Dippers but had a surprise when there in the territory was a juvenile.  Difficult to guess the age and of course I have no idea whether the youngster belonged to the adults that I had been watching so closely....... I would like to think so. Good to see a youngster never the less. It appeared to be independent but was not a strong flyer and seemed smaller than an adult. As it is beginning to clear up a bit, I am about to go back to the river, taking advantage of the summer's lights evening, in the hope of getting a better and closer image. If you check back later I may be able to post a better image that shows the difference between adults and juveniles............ and here it is!

Just a note about how I got this photo. I went back to the river, it was early evening. I was expecting the weather to brighten up, but it didn't, in fact it got progressively duller and wet. never the less, I made my way to the area where I had seen the young dipper this early afternoon. I was expecting the baby bird to be a bit lacking in "street cred" and that's exactly how it turned out. I sat in the spot chosen this afternoon, overlooking a couple of boulders. I was dressed in my gillie suit and this proved enough to fool the young Dipper because it wasn't long before....... there he was, posing perfectly, but the light was poor. I took 100 pictures but couldn't check if I was getting anything decent because any movement would have spooked the bird, only 10 feet from me. There was just a couple of shots that were OK because of the dullconditions and this is the best. The camera has taken its settings from the white chest of the bird and given this great effect which is what I was trying for.

Birdguides Photo of the Week

I am glad to report that my photograph of a flying Cuckoo has been awarded the Birdguides Photo of the Week. Here is the citation from the Photograph.

"Last summer, Devon-based bird photographer Charlie Fleming won his first Photo of the Week with an action shot of two Kingfishers fighting. That image resulted from Charlie spending an extended period photographing the species locally, so that he was present when the unusual event occurred. This week, Charlie has once again proved the benefits of putting in the time as his three-year study of Dartmoor Cuckoos finally gave him a three-hour session with a feeding bird. The best image from this session is a flight shot of the sunlit bird against a background of defocused vegetation. The bird is well posed to show off both the characteristic shape and the underside plumage of this species. This photo, though, also illustrates two features that work particularly well for flight shots. The first is that the bird is photographed side-on: almost all bird photography is best done from the bird's eye level, rather than from above or below. With flight shots, this can be more difficult to achieve, but it's always worth striving for. The second feature is the use of an 'environmental background', rather than just plain sky. This gives a sense of place and can provide a better balance of tones compared with the typical high-contrast bird-in-sky shot. Just rewards for Charlie's perseverence getting to know these birds and their behaviour, as well as practising his technique to make the most of the opportunity."

Today has been amazing. Not seeing the cuckoo yesterday or the day before was disappointing, but I am obsessive and I don't give up easily, if I think there is a sniff of success then I am excited about the prospect and off I go! This morning was like that and it paid off wonderfully. Here's how it unfolded.  As I approached the area it was just starting to rain but I immediately saw the cuckoo as he flew from one tree to another on my right.  If I had not been aware or alert, I would have missed him, they fly quickly and low and are hard to see.

 As is quite usual, there was a Meadow Pipit in toe, Meadow Pipits hate Cuckoos and pester them constantly. A good way to spot a cuckoo is to look for this mobbing activity. Sometimes even if you can't see the Cuckoo, you know there is one there by the behaviour of the "mobbing" birds.

I quickly tried to take up a position hidden behind a wall but where I could see, and hopefully get close enough to photograph him. I took a few photos of him but as I moved closer he caught sight of me and off he went to a tree 100 metres behind.  I was confident that he would return eventually but it was going to take time and I was prepared to wait. I quickly put on my Gillie Suit on and camouflaged my legs and hid comfortably behind the wall............... and waited......... and waited........ eventually, there he was, back in front of me, feeding on the short grass by flying down to caterpillars that he watched for from a prominent perch. From time to time, the Meadow Pipits proved too much of a nuisance and they move to another perch to get away from them. As the morning progressed I managed some great photos but even better, I again managed to watch closely a bird that is so hard to get close to. I hope you enjoy the photographs.

 

More Whinchats

This is a female, one of several on a small section of the moor that I have been watching closely since I came back from Australia at the beginning of the month. Cuckoos were quiet today and I didn't hear one at all which was a surprise. I should imagine that territories no longer need to be established or defended and if there are still cuckoos on the moor they are keeping a low profile.  Even though I sat around waiting, in the end I gave up and went to look for Whinchats, always good photogenic subjects.  They are quite easy to see at this time of the season and perch at the top of bracken calling as they try to distract you from their nest sites. Even though this pair were aware of me, they still carried on catching food, as you can see.  They are not too fussy and happy to take even bluebottles. It is really noticeable that the moor is rich in insect life at this time of the year. It is not hard for the birds to find food and they don't have to waste too much energy feeding themselves and their young. This is why Dartmoor is such a good habitat for breeding birds  and can support thousands of pairs.  It is also a good lesson in how important the environment is and also how fragile. Obviously, insects are prolific because the correct habitat is there to support them but it wouldn't take long for it all to collapse. As you can see from the photos, Whinchats are doing well because there is enough food.  

Back in Devon and Whinchats on the moor.

I haven't posted for a day or so because of a trip up to Yorkshire to see my granddaughter. I couldn't wait to get out to the moor yesterday, I wanted to see if the cuckoo was still in the territory and also investigate the Willow Warblers nest.  I arrived at the Cuckoo site earlier than normal and waited for over an hour...... no Cuckoo.  What a disappointment. I then decided to go to the Willow Warbler nest and when I arrived they had fledged the nest.  I was sorry to have missed the event but glad that the chicks had been successfully reared. With the nest now empty, I was able to have a look at the little nest, remarkably small, made of grasses and beautifully lined with wool which made it very cosy. Ground nesting birds, because they are so vulnerable, grow very quickly and leave the nest very early. Last Thursday the chicks had wing feathers emerging and the eyes were about to open, and then, by the following Tuesday the chicks had grown enough to leave the nest. I estimate they would have been 12 days old?

There was still lots of interest around with several pairs of Whinchat showing really well.  I have noticed that when your presence is noted by the birds they announce their presence by showing well but from a distance.  Then as you try and get close to them they move away and continue calling.  Males are particularly hard to approach and I think that the whole behaviour is about nest distraction.

 

More Cuckoo photos

 

I returned this morning, to the Cuckoo territory on Dartmoor.  I was hoping I would have another encounter with him and I was really pleased when I saw him perched high on a hawthorn bush, obviously looking for caterpillars. It wasn't long before I had him in my view-finder.  I used some of the lessons learnt yesterday and managed to get a bit closer to him.  He hunted for caterpillars as yesterday, using high exposed perches to spy them, then he flew down, as yesterday when he had spied one. I wore my "gillie suit" and stood behind a wall with just my camera resting on top and only my head, (covered by camo hood) showing. In this way, I could see the bird well and he either couldn't see me, or didn't feel threatened. At one point he was only 10 feet from me but to my left and slightly behind me. Exactly the same as yesterday, he disappeared down the valley at around 1300. Obviously, when he has had his fill of caterpillars in the morning he moves off elsewhere.

Nesting Willow Warblers

My usual way of enjoying the wildlife around me is to wear cam clothing and use hides and cover to sit, wait and watch and in that way, see as much as I can.  I discovered a couple of Willow Warblers the other day that were obviously nesting.  Eventually by watching carefully I narrowed down the area of their nest to within a few feet, and then last evening as I sat and watched them coming and going I found it. It was beautifully camouflaged on a bankside, on the ground and amongst the shortish grass. It contained at least 6 little black chicks with really bright yellow gapes........and mouths. I was dressed in my camo "gillie-suit" and this seemed to do the trick because even though I was only 6 feet away, but low down, they carried on as though they were not being watched.  The female, as well as bringing food, sat and brooded the chicks even though she could hardly get in the nest, it was so tiny. Every 2 minutes or so, the male would return to the nest with insects and caterpillars, I was amazed at how much food he was bringing. At one point he fed the female on the nest regardless of the begging chicks as you can see below.

It struck me how "tender" the female was to the chicks, tucking nesting material around them and pecking gently around them before setting down to brood them.

Cuckoo - Cuculus canorus

Yesterday morning was simply one of those special days that come along from time to time. I went out to Dartmoor to continue my search for the species, it's a short window and in less than a month, males will already be on migration back to Africa. Cuckoos are territorial but easily (usually that is) disturbed.  One male bird that I know well is a little different and a bit more tolerant of people, but never the less will usually leave his territory if threatened. I heard him calling and took up position behind a wall and I was getting the best views ever of this bird that is almost mystical in it's appeal, even by non-birding people. The reason for his almost tolerance was food!  He was perching to exposed perches in either 1 of 3 trees. As he perched he was looking down to the ground intently.  I have seen Kingfishers "bobbing" slightly just before they dive for prey.  This is thought to be the way they asses the distance to their prey. Our cuckoo was doing this little bob before he descended down to the grass to grab a caterpillar .

 I saw him do this at least 2 dozen times and it turned in to an amazing spectacle.He could see his prey from quite a distance, often even as far as 40 feet.  He would glide down and then pick up the caterpillar  before flying spectacularly back to his perch.  I was fascinated and excited and decided to get as many "in-flight" shots as I could. This turned out to be easier than I thought it would be.  I literally focused on the bird on the ground and as he then started his flight back up to his perch, snapped off as many shots as I could. Eventually I managed to get it right and freeze the action by using a really fast shutter speed. 

Getting a good portrait was hard because he was usually just a tad too far, or silhouetted against the sky, but from time to time he showed really well.  Meadow Pipits were a nuisance to him and repeatedly mobbed and pestered him which usually caused him to fly to another perch. 

Northern Wheatear

I bumped in to this very young Wheatear this afternoon.  They are a typical bird of high moorlands and share the same habitat in Devon as Whinchat, Meadow Pipits and Cuckoos. I had seen the parents of this young bird last week. 

Chaffinch for Trish!

This pair of Chaffinch, the male above, were photographed on nearby Dartmoor. They are common birds in the UK and often taken for granted. The male is a pretty bird with a nice song as well. Females could easily be confused with sparrows by the casual observer but a close look will reveal the wing bars which are prominent in both sexes.  They are said to be more reliant on insects in the breeding season and you can clearly see the female here has a beak full of food.

The name is interesting and is derived from the chaff left after wheat has been harvested. They like to pick over in farmyards and at the harvest. You may be familiar with the expression "Can't separate the Wheat from the Chaff" which means you can't spot the good from the bad. My father, born in the 1920's, loved these birds and just referred to them simply and affectionately as "Chaffies"

Another common name in the north of England is "Spink"  which reflects the contact call of both sexes. This is just one of numerous colloquial names for the bird attesting to it's popularity in the UK which goes back even to the middle ages.

A Willow Warbler pair.

My regular readers will know how much I love certain areas of Dartmoor. Some of the scenery can be a bit too stark but the little valleys and wooded areas are just magical and to me very special places. I love the area between Bennet's Cross and Sousons Plantation, it's called Headland Warren I believe. Yesterday I went again to try and photograph Whinchats and Cuckoo's and of course Willow Warbler and Reed Buntings, and along with Chaffinch, certainties in this area. They are not in the least bit hard to find. We are smack in the middle of the breeding season and I have enjoyed, in the short time since being back from Australia, getting to know the territories of a few pairs. I am not a "Twitcher" kind of birder, I have no real desire to keep lists and add to it like some people (who incidentally, I have the greatest respect for). My methods involve finding a territory and sitting quietly concealed to get as intimate as I can with my subject and then learning as much as I can about them. I took the Willow Warbler photographs (above) close to their nest site and I was interested to see that I could, for certain tell the difference between the male and female. The male had much more yellow on it'e plumage whereas the female was devoid of any yellow. Not a revelation but not something I have read about before. This is the female I believe, (below) and the male immediately above with much more noticeable yellow.

Whinchat on the moor.

The Whinchat - (Saxicola rubetra) is a bird worth coming to Devon to look for. I see them every year during the breeding season and once you know where to look, they are easy to find. However, I have been shocked to read how seriously in decline they appear to be with massive figures such as 50% since 2008 being mentioned. It is thought, but not proven, that conditions either on migration or at their sub-Saharan wintering grounds are the main cause of the problem.  I can only speak about my own experience and have to say that they are just as easy to find this year as in previous ones.  

A pair that I am watching at the moment are providing good opportunities. I have been watching them for the last 4 days and although I haven't found their nest (I haven't really looked), I have a good idea where it is, down to a small area. As I sit and watch them, first one of the pair, then eventually the other will take up a position at the highest point on a favourite bush or tree, always right at the very top. The male will sing and then stop and feed if an opportunity presents it's self. Perched on a Hawthorn Bush, bees and flies are easily found and very little energy is wasted on finding food. When the chicks hatch they will become much more active and easier to see as they come and go more frequently.

I have constructed a simple hide nearby which, with luck, may provide some really good opportunities. Cuckoos also share the territory and there is always the chance of a good sighting close up.......... fingers crossed. 

Cuckoo - Cuculus canorus

I have to confess that it hasn't taken me long to become obsessed with cuckoos again, (my favourite bird in June.) The day dawned with the prospect of the hottest day of the year forecast and I was full of anticipation, and frankly felt full of something resembling joy in the glorious sunshine  as I arrived on the moor, well before 10.  When you consider how glorious Dartmoor is on a summer's day, then it's a mystery to me  why so few people make the effort to be there, so I wasn't surprised to be the first car in the car park. I immediately heard a cuckoo calling from the thinly scattered hawthorns opposite. Now, my plan for the last 3 years has involved sitting for literally hours by likely trees and bushes that I had seen cuckoos calling from and frankly this strategy has only been partially successful.  I quickly grasped the opportunity before me. As I crossed the road, I could still hear the bird calling loudly......... but could I see it? A few steps forward and the cuckoo gave it's self away as it flew out of the tree now only a few feet in front of me. I was thrilled when it landed in the adjoining tree and I could see it  now.  I was getting my best ever views of a cuckoo! Unfortunately, the bird was still obscured by foliage and I tried to manoeuvre  for a good photo. After a minute or so it flew back to the tree where It had first been and now I managed to get the photo above! success at last. 

Dartmoor Birds

After my wonderful trip to photograph the birds of Queensland I have to confess that I thought it was going to be a bit depressing  to be back to the birds of Great Britain.  Well I was totally wrong! Yesterday was full of interest and I saw and photographed so many great birds. They were not all rarities but that never detracts because with patience  and the use of some good cover, I got really close to some of my favourites.  I made a real blunder though, I  accidentally deleted photographs of male and female Whinchat and disappointingly some close ups of a Tree Pipit.  I built a hide from scrim netting covered with heather and moss to blend in nicely.  It was 10 feet or so from a May Blossom tree which is a good place to see birds.  When there is blossom on a tree, insects come to feed on the nectar and this in turn provides food for lots of birds.  A Whinchat male was singing beautifully from the top of the tree and then stopping to grab an insect. Later on, I had a really close up view of two Cuckoos. They flew in to a bush next to me as I photographed the Meadow Pipit above, they saw me immediately and quickly left the scene.  I have to say that the photograph has turned out well and is one of those that stands out as one of my best. Well lit, sharp and with an uncluttered background. The list for yesterday included. Willow Warbler, Reed Bunting, Meadow and Tree Pipit, Redstart, Cuckoo, Wheatear, Raven, Buzzard, Whitethroat and Whinchat....... a good day. 

Back home in the UK and the Blog is back with a bang!

After an amazing trip to North Queensland, rightly described as a bird watching paradise, I am back home in Exeter to carry on recording the great birds and wildlife here in Devon. I am though, glad to be back to decent internet connection, frankly my only gripe with Australia which really is an impressively wonderful place, but perhaps you have to travel to realise what you have isn't that bad after all.

Anyway, back to wildlife.  I am currently in the process of building a gallery of Queensland Birds which is obviously going to take quite a while to complete. I photographed more than 110 different species along with reptiles and marsupials. To have a look at the few species already catalogued click here.  The bird above is a Clamerous Reed Warbler an Asian and Australasian species which was quite noticeable in Queensland. I thought it would be interesting to compare to the Willow Warbler that  I photographed today. Dartmoor in June is always a special place and I really enjoy it every time I go and today was no exception. I went to try and photograph Whinchat and Redstart, both birds were hard to find today but I took exceptionally good photos of this Willow Warbler. It is an extremely well marked bird with lots of yellow which isn't always as noticeable. I am certain that I know where the nest is, this bird was carrying food back and forth.